In the Long Run

“Bist du mude?”
“Ja.”

Those were the last two lines of the very first German dialog that I memorized many years ago in German I, and recently I’ve found myself muttering them frequently.

Translation:
“Are you tired?”
“Yes.”

Yesterday as I ran several miles in the predawn darkness I saw a sign that I had not ever seen before. It designated a right turn to the Municipal Cemetery. I smirked. “Yeah, I’d like to rest in peace about now.”

The marathon is two and a half weeks away, and I’m more than ready for “tapering”—the time of decreasing one’s mileage before a race. I have 22 miles I still need to complete this week, but next week there is a big drop—only 24 total! Yippee! And the final week: a mere 10 miles. Well that is, only 10 before I run the actual 26.2 miles all at once at the end of that week.

I’m nervous. Even though I’ve done this successfully before, each year brings new challenges and doubts. Sometimes I wonder why I’m doing it at all. Do I think I’m some kind of Wunderkind?! Maybe I’m too old to be running around like this…

I went to Natalie’s (Morales, of The Today Show) blog for a little inspiration. She is trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon in her upcoming marathon, and needs a 3:40 time to do so. She wrote, “Running a marathon is a lot like getting ready for childbirth (though less painful, I think). You really have to get your mind in the game as well as your body.”

All right then. I’ve been through childbirth, AND I've been through several marathons. I’m tough. I’ll finish out this training with determination, optimism, and confidence. Ja, ich bin mude jetzt. But I’m imagining how wunderbar it will be when I run through that finish line.

Posted by Cyppy at 9:31 PM